With COVID-19 cases declining in Haryana, the State Government on Friday decided to allow cinema halls, theaters, and multiplexes to open with 50 percent seating capacity.

Universities, Colleges, schools for classes 10th to 12th, polytechnics, ITIs, coaching institutions, libraries and training institutes have also been allowed to open from February 1 onwards. An order in this regard was issued by Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Secretary on Friday.

The state on Friday reported 19 more deaths and 4630 new COVID-19 cases, with a daily positivity rate of 15.44 percent.

Haryana also reported 8181 recoveries, more than the fresh cases in the last 24 hours. The death toll due to COVID in the state has reached 10256 and cumulative case tally stood at 895339, according to the state’s health bulletin.

As per the bulletin, three deaths each were reported in Gurugram, Panipat, Panchkula and Hisar, two in Kurukshetra, one each in Faridabad, Karnal, Kaithal, Sirsa and Yamunanagar.

1545 positive cases were reported in Gurugram followed by 407 cases in Faridabad and 359 cases in Panchkula.

There were 31988 active cases in the state.

The COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 95.49 percent and the fatality rate was reported at 1.09 percent in the state, the bulletin added.

Punjab reports 25 deaths, 3096 fresh COVID cases

25 more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Punjab on Friday pushing the death toll to 17159 while the state recorded 3096 new COVID-19 cases as the infection tally rose to 735139,

The daily positivity rate of 9.45 percent was recorded in the state. Among 25 fatalities, seven were reported in Ludhiana, four in Jalandhar, two each in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur and one each in Sangrur, Ropar and Mansa, stated the state’s health bulletin.

A highest of 693 fresh infections were reported in SAS Nagar followed by 467 cases in Ludhiana and 234 cases in Jalandhar.

There were  33036 active cases in the state. Among them, 1156 were on oxygen support, 343 in critical care facilities and 95 on ventilator support, the bulletin said.

6880 patients also recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours.

Himachal reports nine deaths, 755 fresh cases

Nine more people succumbed to COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Friday as the state logged 1843 fresh cases.

With this, the death toll reached 3961 while the cumulative infection tally rose to 267577.

According to the state’s health bulletin, four deaths were reported in Kangra, three in Mandi, one each in Bilaspur and Hamirpur.

The highest 371 new cases were reported from Kangra, followed by 276 cases in Solan, 259 in Mandi, 181 in Hamirpur, 17 in Shimla.

 The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state stood at 9762. Besides, 2417 more patients recovered from the viral disease. With this, the total number of recoveries in Himachal Pradesh stands at 253840.

Chandigarh registers four deaths, 399 fresh infections

Chandigarh on Friday reported four deaths and 399 new COVID-19 cases.

The city reported 4647 active cases and the positivity rate stood at 13.93 per cent.

The total death count since the pandemic now stands at 1102. Chandigarh also recorded 1168 new recoveries in the last 24 hours.